Scissors or shears



(No Model.)

G. P. JOHNSON. SGISSORS 0R SHEARS.

No 558,494. Patented Apr. 21, 1896.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JrEOR-GE P. JOHNSON, OF GLOVERSVILLE, NE IV YORK.

SCISSORS OR SHEARS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 558,494, dated April21, 1896.

Application filed September 17, 1895. Serial No. 662,811. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE P. JOHNSON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Gloversville, in the county of Fulton and State of New York,have invented anew and useful Improvement in Scissors or Shears, whichimprovement is fully set forth in the following specification andaccompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a view, partly in section,of a pair of scissors provided with my improvement; Fig. 2, a rear viewof the same, and Fig. 3 perspective detail views.

My invention relates to improvements in the construction of scissors,shears, and other cutting instruments of that class; and its object isto provide a simple, inexpensive, and efficient attachment designed torelieve the fingers of the operator from the usual cramping and painfulexertion required to maintain a close and uniform cutting contact of theblades. It is well understood by all who are familiar with the operationof these instruments that whenever the blades are permitted to separatethey will slide over instead of cutting the cloth or other fabric, andif the process be continued the edges soon become dull and the evilincreases. If, on the other hand, the blades be kept in contact, theymutually sharpen each other.

My invention consists of a peculiarlyshaped thin and resilient platewhich is interposed between the blades of a pair of scissors and havingits slotted front portion engaging the pivot of the shears, its rear endbeing sloped to a point, the angles of which correspond to the rabbetedrear ends of the scissors-blades, one side of said slope being turnedup, forming a spring, the other side of the slope having a lug which isbent over one of the blades and in conjunction with the pivot holds theplate in place.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, A designates a pair of scissorsof the usual form, provided between the rear ends of the blades with aplate 2, the forward end having a slot 3 to engage the pivot 4, Whilethe rear end slopes to a point, the angles of which correspond to therabbeted rear ends of the scissorsblades. One side of the slope isturned up, forming a spring 5. The opposite side of the plate has anintegral lug 6, which is bent over one of the blades and in conjunctionwith the pivot holds the plate in proper position.

The operation of the device is apparent. The spring acting in the rearof the pivotal point tends to separate the handles, and the blades areconversely held in contact. If the spring should become deranged in anymanner, it may be readily removed and replaced by unbending the lug 6,and it will also be understood that the tension of the spring may beregulated by the screw-pivot.

What I claim as new is- The combination with a pair of scissors orshears of the herein-described spring-plate provided at its front endwith a slot to receive the pivot of the shears, and provided with therearwardly sloped or tapered rear end, one of the slopes being turned upto form a flange the other edge of the plate being provided with anupturned lug at the junction of the straight and sloped portions, as setforth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand,this 2d day of September, 1895, in the presence of witnesses.

GEORGE P. JOHNSON.

\Vitnesses:

HORTON D. WRIGHT, WM. J WILSON.

